Mel Gibson’s Oscar-Nominated WW2 Movie Is “Not Quite Authentic,” Intense Battles Still Impress Historian

Hacksaw Ridge is “not quite authentic,” though its intense battle scenes still impress historian John McManus. Directed by Mel Gibson, the 2016 war film follows the experiences of Desmond Doss during World War II who, as a devout Seventh-day Adventist, refused to carry or use any weapons or firearms, and became the first conscientious objector to ever receive the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary service during the Battle of Okinawa. The movie stars Andrew Garfield as Desmond Doss alongside a cast that includes Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths, Vince Vaughn, and Richard Pyros.

In a video from Insider, historian John McManus rated the accuracy of World War II battles in movies and TV shows, including the Battle of Okinawa in Hacksaw Ridge. Watch the portion of the video below, starting at the 0:21 minute mark:

McManus mentions that the movie exaggerates certain aspects of the battle, such as the height of Hacksaw Ridge and the presence of excessive flame, while also misrepresenting how soldiers would have behaved during the bombardment. However, the historian praises the film’s accuracy in depicting certain combat details, like how soldiers climbed the ropes and used machine guns. Overall, he rated the scene an 8/10 in terms of realism. Read his full comments below:

First of all, there’s way too much flame. There are battleships, and yes, maybe they might’ve been part of the softening up of Hacksaw Ridge, but the way that’s portrayed here, I think is not quite authentic in the sense of these infantry soldiers all standing around out in the open watching the bombardment. They would’ve been spread out, under cover. Hacksaw Ridge itself is portrayed as being a little taller than it really was. It’s true they used rope netting to get up there, but more commonly, they just used ladders, because it wasn’t quite as high up as is portrayed in this film. One thing that’s very realistic is the way they’re portrayed going up on the rope. They’re grabbing their hands vertically rather than horizontally, as you might in order to stabilize yourself. You would never do the latter, because the guy near you might step on your hand. So you would always grasp the rope ladder to the sides like that, and that’s really well done. So the problem with Hacksaw Ridge is there wasn’t any other way to get around it, like from behind. Because Hacksaw is just one of a network of these kinds of places, right in the core of Okinawa, that the Americans are trying to take and overwhelm. So you really kind of had to get up there in a frontal way as they convey.

There certainly was hand-to-hand fighting. A lot of it that happens at Hacksaw Ridge. Many Japanese who are sort of outflanked or find themselves among the Americans would’ve done exactly that. There’s many instances in the Pacific War when you have Americans watching their buddies rolling around on the ground with a Japanese and saying “Get out of the way so I can shoot this guy.”

Vaughn wants to flank that pillbox, because where he is, and the other guys, is right in its cone of fire. So what I’ve always thought he meant by a weapons team is the bazooka team that you see come into play in order to be their best weapon against that pillbox. But in any kind of small-unit engagement, you want to flank your enemy because that’s where he’s going to be vulnerable. One of the things the Americans found out, among the many unpleasant surprise at Hacksaw Ridge, were just how many of these kind of pillbox-style fortifications there were. Now many of them were like caves, almost like raised caves that barely had an aperture, so that one would’ve been pretty vulnerable the way it’s portrayed there.

I don’t know why you’d throw that against a pillbox. You really want to explode a fragmentation grenade there. One thing that’s dead on, you’ll notice Vince Vaughn, the sergeant, when he sees one of his machine gunners go down, he immediately wants somebody back up on that machine gun, because that’s really your supporting firepower. You’ve got to keep that thing in action. And the way they portray the American .30 caliber machine gun and the way it was used with two guys, it’s exactly the way you would’ve used it. I would rate it about an 8. Mixed emotions about this scene. I love the intensity of it.

Its Battle Of Okinawa Scene Stands Out

Throughout Hacksaw Ridge, many details regarding Desmond Doss’ backstory are altered, such as his father being a World War I veteran, when Doss takes a gun from his alcoholic father, and the details of his first marriage. The film flat-out omits other parts of his backstory and military service, such as his prior combat service in the Battles of Guam and Leyte, for which he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for bravery in both battles. Despite these changes and omissions, director Mel Gibson still maintained a remarkable level of accuracy and adhered to the principle of the story.

The Battle of Okinawa is undoubtedly the standout scene in Hacksaw Ridge, even though it takes several liberties with realism, as McManus mentions. However, the accurate depiction of the soldiers climbing the rope, the use of machine guns, and the intensity of the combat are done well enough to impress the historian and earn a strong rating for realism. Most importantly, the scene depicts Desmond Doss’ extraordinary bravery as he risks his life, without ever firing a shot, to save 75 men during the Battle of Okinawa.

Our Take On Hacksaw Ridge’s Historical Accuracy

It Sets A High Standard

Hacksaw Ridge is historically accurate for a Hollywood movie, capturing key aspects of Desmond Doss’ life – including his pacifism, courage, and actions during the Battle of Okinawa – though there are many alterations and exaggerations to his story along the way. Overall, this commitment to accuracy, combined with powerful performances and intense battle scenes, contributed to the film’s critical and commercial success, earning multiple Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Andrew Garfield, and Best Director for Mel Gibson.

Hacksaw Ridge’s True Story Explained

(& The Biggest Changes The Movie Makes)

The movie remains faithful to the core elements of Doss’ experience, delivering a powerful and emotionally resonant tribute to his heroic actions during the war.

Based on the 2004 documentary The Conscientious Objector directed by Terry Benedict, Hacksaw Ridge, like most movies based on true stories, takes some creative liberties, particularly in the portrayal of Desmond Doss’ relationship with his wife, Dorothy Schutte (Teresa Palmer). Additionally, certain aspects of his life before the war, including his relationship with his father, were altered for the film. However, the movie remains faithful to the core elements of Doss’ experience, delivering a powerful and emotionally resonant tribute to his heroic actions during the war.

During the early days of World War II, Doss worked at a naval shipyard but chose to enlist in the military despite being eligible for deferment. He was deeply committed to his Seventh-day Adventist beliefs, including a strict adherence to nonviolence, making him a conscientious objector. He refused to bear arms and faced ridicule from fellow soldiers, but remained unwavering in his faith. During battles in Okinawa, Guam, and Leyte, he served as a medic and risked his life to save others. His heroism at Hacksaw Ridge, where he saved 75 soldiers, earned him the Medal of Honor.

Doss received the Medal of Honor from President Truman.

However, Hacksaw Ridge makes several changes to this true story for dramatic effect. While his Christian beliefs and refusal to bear arms are central, the film changes his motivation, linking it to a fictional incident where his father threatens his mother. Additionally, his marriage timeline and court-martial are dramatized, and the two prior battles (Guam and Leyte) are omitted to highlight Okinawa. The film condenses his weeks-long heroism into a few days, enhancing the tension, and leaves out other awards like his two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart, focusing solely on his Medal of Honor.

Source: Insider